i've installed NetBSD on my Thinkpad T42. i managed to get everything working (even suspend/resume and radeondrm after compiling a new kernel). there are some things that i miss from Linux, though. (i'm not a great fan of Linux, but it has pretty good support for my laptop, so please don't judge me. these are: APM (protection system for the hard drive), being able to manually set fan speeds, Synaptics touchpad support, and the hotkeys.

i understand that even though there is some experimental support for the Thinkpad motion sensors, it's not fully implemented, and there's no userspace stuff to control it (e.g. hdapsd).

i'm also pretty sure that there's no way of manually setting fan speeds, and that there are no Synaptics drivers for NetBSD.

my question is: is there a kernel module specifically for the IBM ACPI, like ibm_acpi.ko in FreeBSD, which would allow me to use the Fn+X hotkeys? if so, where is it? how do i install it? how do i load it?

sorry for these noob-ish questions, i'm mainly used to Linux and Solaris, i have no real experience with BSDs.

NetBSD does support modules but not everything is available/build as module contrary to FreeBSD- you have to compile your own kernel. I attach my config of NetBSD kernel I used up to version 5.99.24 if I remember. Config was for T61 Thinkpad.

If I could tell you something about NetBSD support for Thinkapd is that almost all is supported well: function keys, audio keys, docking station, audio card, wireless (only intel3945 gave some problems), sd card reader, suspend/resume works but not in every case (bluetooth devices, aps, usb audio devices and built in sd card reader disallow suspend- perhaps something changed in the most current branch).

thank you for this in-depth and to the point reply. i'll be sure to look into it. i have to say, i'm loving NetBSD more and more.

sadly, it seems that the aps has no real function beside maybe monitoring the sensors. (from the manual: CAVEATS: The aps driver does not yet maintain state and subsequently does not take evasive action when it thinks the hard drive is in danger.)

strange.. i've used the GENERIC as a default template, which has the 'thinkpad* at acpi?' option enabled by default. but if i try to use tpb, it says '/dev/nvram' doesn't exist. am i missing something? should i mknod it?

(synaptics touchpad is also enabled by default, and i can't scroll, but i think that can be remedied by editing the xorg.conf or something).

I think that nvram is not supported on NetBSD- I have never tried it honestly. Do the extra keys work for you? If so maybe you don't need to use tpb.

hm.. if tpb is in pkgsrc, then it should be.. and i remember getting it to work about a year ago, i just don't remember how. ;) the extra keys don't work. i don't really need an OSD for brightness etc., i just installed tpb for testing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pjoter

For synaptic please see sysctl -a | grep pms to check available options.

interestingly enough, it gives me null output.

as i've said, options PMS_SYNAPTICS_TOUCHPAD and thinkpad* at acpi? are enabled in my kernel. to add to the strangeness, the mouse pointer stops when i try to scroll with two fingers, indicating that the gesture is recognised. also, if i try to click with three fingers, 1 time out of 5 i get a right click. so it *should* be working..